Audit next step for health department

A forensic audit appears to be the next thing on the drawing board for the Ford-Iroquois Department of Public Health.

The department's finances are the subject of the audit, which follow-up on the earlier allegations of fraud, awarding of contracts without proper bids.

Another issue surfaced this week when the Edgar County watchdog Group pointed another finger, claiming the department's tobacco coordinator—Julie Clark—misused funds for the tobacco program. Watchdog Kirk Allen offered to produce documents showing Clark misled the health department officials in her application for grants to subsidize the program.